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Chapter XXV. 
ORPINCITONS. 
Single-combed Blacks. — This now fully recognised breed of utility Poultry is the result of systematic 
crossing of Langshans, Minorcas, and Plymouth Rocks, their origin resting in the hands of Mr. W. Cook, 
Kent, England. They take after the Langshan in general characteristics, but have clean legs. 
They are good winter layers, and the chickens mature quickly. The pullets generally commence to lay 
when between five and six months old, and a great feature in the breed is, that it matters little what period 
of the year they are hatched, the pullets will commence to lay at about six months old. The eggs laid 
are mostly a brown or tinted colour. The chickens are extraordinarily hardy, grow quickly, and fledge 
well, especially the pullets. They are a very docile Fowl, doing well in confinement, and stand hot 
weather remarkably well. The cock of the single-combed variety should have a perfectly erect single comb 
(without side spikes or twists), red face and ear-lobes, tail fairly erect, broad breast, dark eyes, black legs.'and 
white toe-nails. The plumage should be a beautiful black throughout, with a nice beetle-green sheen on the 
feathers. The hen to match should have a nicely curved, dark beak, red face, dark eyes, single comb 
standing erect, the plumage black throughout, with a beautiful green lustre upon the feathers, black legs, and 
white toe-nails. Both cock and hen should also be white, or pinky white, on the bottom of the feet. The 
saddle feathers, or cushion of the hen should grow well up the tail, which gives the bird the appearance of a 
shortish back. The Orpington family contains several other varieties — the rose-combed Blacks and the single 
and rose-combed Buffs. The rose-combed Blacks should have rather neat rose combs, with a short spike 
behind, dark eyes, beak, legs and feet, full, broad chest, short in back, tail carried fairly high, legs short, the 
same plumage as the single-combed Blacks; the hens being similar to the latter, with the exception of 
the comb. The latest varieties of this breed are the single and rose-combed Buffs ; but the composition 
of these birds is totally different, the Golden Spangled Hamburg, Buff Cochin, and Dark Dorking being the 
material employed. Time alone will prove whether or not this latter production will stand ; but it is an 
undeniable fact that the single and rose-combed Blacks are here to stay. 
In Judging Orpingtons, sprightliness and activity, with proportion, carriage, and condition should always 
be taken into consideration. Loose, flabby combs should also be strongly discouraged, and great length of 
shank and leg generally should also be strongly condemned, as the latter, failing shows a distinct tendency 
towards the Langshan type ; the Orpington, it must be remembered, being a stout, cobby, and compact bird. 
The Schedule for Judging Orpingtons, given at the close of this Chapter, is in the main compiled from 
the ' Orpington (Hub's Standard," England. We have made a slight alteration here and tiiere in the 
wording, so as to make it clearer and more intelligible, and in the list of disqualifications have added some 
important points, omitted in the original. That the latter are necessary, if a Schedule for Judging is to be 
of any worth, will be patent to our readers. 
For the following interesting article on the Single-combed Black Orpington Fowl, we are indebted to 
Mr. E. Butcher, of " Carbrooke," North Sydney, N.S.W., who has had some years' practical experience with 
the breed, and been more than ordinarily successful in the Show pen. This gentleman states : — " To Mr. 
W. Cook, of Orpington House, Kent, England, belongs the honour of having made the breed, and Fanciers 
throughout the world owe Mr. Cook a debt of gratitude for having produced a class of fowl that has few 
equals, no matter under what circumstances and surroundings they are kept. The crosses used to bring this 
ndw recognised breed to the high state of perfection it has attained were the three breeds known as Plymouth 
Rocks, Langshans, and Black Minorcas, and the idea of crossing these breeds was to produce a fowl which 
combined all the good and essential qualities of the three. This has met with a great measure of success, as 
the Orpington ' fills the bill' The method followed by Mr. Cook was to cross Minorca cocks, choosing 
